Endostatin-derived Short Peptides in Corneal Transplantation

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Endostatin-derived short peptide in corneal transplantation Abstract: Ocular trauma's ranking as the fourth most common injury among combat personnel indicates the vital importance of evaluating and promoting ocular health among veterans. Corneal neovascularization, or the growth of new blood vessels (angiogenesis) and new lymphatic vessels (lymphangiogenesis) in the cornea, often results from infection or severe corneal injury including explosion pressure, penetration by debris, or long-term exposure to dry environments. Preventing corneal neovascularization generally necessitates in high risk corneal transplantation in order to restore eyesight and prevent blindness. Approximately 40,000 corneal transplants are performed in the United States annually, but new blood vessel growth in either the original or transplanted cornea significantly diminishes treatment success rates. For example, the rate of rejected corneas that are introduced into avascular hosts is 0-10%, compared to the significantly increased rate of 25-50% among hosts that are severely vascularized. The discovery of specific lymphatic vessel markers has improved our understanding of lymphangiogenesis. However, no effective treatment to prevent corneal vessel growth after corneal transplantation currently exists. Collagen XVIII (col18a1) and its cleavage products (endostatin, neostatin-7 and endostatin-derived peptides) have been identified as modulators of corneal angiogenesis and lymphangiogenesis and therefore of corneal transplant rejection. Endostatin competes with pro-angiogenic Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors (VEGFs) for binding to the tyrosine-kinase receptors, VEGFRs, that are necessary to mediate the effects of VEGFs. VEGFR-1 and -2 are two receptors that are primary mediators of angiogenesis and lymphangiogenesis in the corneal stroma and epithelium. In our experiment, we propose to use high-risk mouse corneal transplantation models with collagen XVIII knockout, Lecre-VEGFR1lox and lecre-VEGFR2lox mouse as recipients with endostatin-derived short peptide and VEGF traps, to determine the most effective strategies for inhibiting corneal blood and lymphatic vessel growth. In so doing, we hope to identify components that effectively modulate corneal neovascularization in order to facilitate the future development of drugs that will improve corneal transplant success rates. Our research will bear implications that are not only pertinent to the Veteran Affairs healthcare mission, promoting ocular health and preventing blindness among veterans, but also indicate methods for successful transplantation of tissues other than just the cornea.